It’s what you know. Some of the most important information in Scripture is flagged by the word “KNOW”, as in “Know this” or “This I know.” The word “know” occurs over a thousand times in the Bible, and on 137 occasions, the apostle Paul used the word “know” in his letters. He didn’t say maybe, perhaps, think, or suppose. He used the word “know.” He told the Corinthians in I Corinthians 2:12, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might KNOW the things that are freely given to us of God.”

The apostle John was similarly attached to this word. Notice the last chapter of 1 John: “…that you may KNOW that you have eternal lift …we KNOW that He hears us… we KNOW that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him…we KNOW that we are of God…we KNOW that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding, that we may KNOW Him…” We can’t trace all one thousand knows of the Bible, but here are some particularly important ones:

Deuteronomy 7:9, “KNOW therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;…”

Joshua 3:10, “And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall KNOW that the living God is among you…”

I Samuel 17:46, “This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may KNOW that there is a God in Israel.”

Job 19:25-26, “For I KNO W that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: (26) And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:”

Psalm 4:3, “But KNOW that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.”

Psalm 100:3, “KNOW ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

Psalm 135:5-6, “For I KNOW that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. (6) Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.”

Acts 2:36, “Therefore let all the house of Israel KNOW assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

James 4:4, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, KNOW ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

Perhaps one of the more familiar and very powerful passages with the word “KNOW” is found in I Timothy 1:12, “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I KNOW whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” The story is told of an aged Christian woman whose memory began failing. Last to go were the many Bible verses she had memorized during her lifetime. Eventually only 2 Timothy 1:12 stayed with her, but that too began to fade. By and by, she could only remember, “…he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” Then she could only remember, “that which I have committed unto him against that day.” As she lay dying, her loved ones bent low to catch what she was whispering. It was; only one word: “Him…Him…Him.” She had forgotten the whole Bible except for that one word, yet in that one word she had the entire Bible.

As you read the Bible each day, notice the commands to “KNOW”. As you come across that word in Scripture, circle or underline it. The holy writers penned their words with confidence, boldness, and knowledge. None of us knows whether today will bring best or worst-case scenarios. But in every condition, we know that our Redeemer lives, we know that He is a great God above all gods, we know that all things will turn out for our deliverance, and we know He is able to keep what we have committed unto Him against that day.

This Weekly SERMON brings us to the end of our 24 week study of the Book of Philippians. Next week will be a message entitled, “Working through a Spiritual Dry Spell.” Then beginning September 14, we will start a SEVEN part series from one of the great chapters of the Bible – Romans chapter 8.

In His Amazing Grace,

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